Editorial: Lee football coach’s departure makes sense

Midland Reporter-Telegram

Published 11:16 am, Monday, February 1, 2016

Photo: James Durbin

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Lee football head coach James Morton walks off the field with his team following an overtime loss to San Angelo Central on Friday, Oct. 30, 2015, at Grande Communications Stadium. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

Lee football head coach James Morton walks off the field with his team following an overtime loss to San Angelo Central on Friday, Oct. 30, 2015, at Grande Communications Stadium. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

Photo: James Durbin

Editorial: Lee football coach’s departure makes sense

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Midland’s loss will be Eastland’s gain.

There appears to be not much our community can do as a top-notch football coach, James Morton, is leaving Lee High School. To many it might not make much sense why a coach of a Class 6A football program leaves for one that competes in Class 3A.

Well, it appears it has nothing to do with the size of the school but Morton’s desire to return home. Morton is a graduate of Eastland and a member of the high school’s state championship team.

“It’s a good place for my family and it’s a chance to get back home,” Morton said. “I know going to a 3A (program) from a 6A will raise some eyebrows but I never got into coaching for the A’s. My goal was to make a difference and make an impact in young people’s lives.”

We get it, and yes, Morton has made a difference in many students’ lives over the years. Before coming to Midland, he made an impact in the Region I football landscape at Lubbock Monterey. He was the ideal candidate to take over the Rebel football program, which hadn’t missed the postseason in the previous six seasons under Randy Quisenberry.

Some may look at his record at Lee and disagree, but we believe he can leave with his head held high. The Lee program is in good shape.

We warn those in the Rebel nation who believe the program is a John Parchman away from another run at three state championships. We know dominance in high school football can be cyclical. We also know the Texas football landscape doesn’t favor teams from West Texas. This isn’t the 1980s or 1990s.

We write this to say now is the perfect time to reassess what we pay our football coaches. There used to be a time when paying a head football coach six-figures could be justified. We are not sure our school board can do that any more. We know Midland ISD athletic department officials are bound to pay their football coaches basically the same salary. We also know when you pay the football coach that much, other district salaries increase.

Getting back to Morton. He was a standout coach and a better person. We hope Lee focuses on the latter trait when hiring the school’s next coach.